Posted by Chinenye on Wed 16th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
A late night attack on a cattle camp in Kwara has ended in a deadly clash after security forces chased suspected rustlers into the forest.
(Cattle Herders. Photo by Premuim Times)
Four suspected cattle rustlers have been k!lled in a gunfight with security forces after they allegedly att@cked a cattle camp in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident happened at about 10pm on Friday when the rustlers allegedly att@cked the camp and fled with about 40 cows.
Police, army, forest guards and local vigilantes mobilised to the area after getting information about what happened.
The joint security team moved into the surrounding forest and found the routes the fleeing suspects had used.
When the security operatives caught up with them, the rustlers opened fire.
Four of them were k!lled during the gunfight while others escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.
Police recovered 35 of the stolen cows and a locally made AK-47 rifle.
Efforts are ongoing to track the fleeing suspects and recover the remaining cattle.
The incident comes amid several security operations in Kwara State in recent weeks.
On August 27, police rescued a traditional ruler and two other kidn@pping victims around the Elerin area after they were abducted from Igbesi on August 22.
One suspected kidn@pper was k!lled during the rescue while others escaped.
Earlier on August 3, police arrested a suspected kidn@pper in Kaiama who was trying to buy an AK-47 rifle.
He had allegedly paid 1.6 million naira towards the purchase.
He told investigators he wanted the gun to become a leader within his kidn@pping gang and eventually start his own criminal group.
The Police Commissioner said success in recovering the cattle came from residents providing timely information and security agencies working together.
He commended the army, forest guards and local vigilantes for their work.
The commissioner said criminals often use forests and difficult terrain to escape, making it important for communities to share intelligence and security agencies to coordinate operations.
He assured rural residents that police would continue working with other agencies to improve security and urged people to provide information to help prevent att@cks and catch fleeing suspects.